Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban for promoting girls” education, will make her first public speech on her 16th birthday in New York, the office of Britain”s former prime minister Gordon Brown has announced. Malala will speak at the United Nations on July 12, said Brown, speaking in his capacity as the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, reports The News. A Taliban gunman shot Malala at point-blank range while she was returning home in her school bus in Pakistan”s Swat Valley on October 9 last year. She was flown to Britain for surgery on her head and, once she had recovered sufficiently, returned to school in Birmingham, last month. Brown said Malala is a true inspiration and a shining beacon for girls” education around the world. He said he is full of admiration for Malala”s courage and determination in the journey she is on, adding that she can become a real leader in the campaign for a school place for every girl, and every boy. Malala has become a global symbol of the campaign for girls” right to an education and has been nominated for this year”s Nobel Peace Prize. Over 4,000 young people are expected to be in attendance for her debut speech. Her self-penned life story is due out later this year in a deal reportedly worth around three million dollars. (ANI)
